Lighting-fixture holder



Nov. 3, 1925.v 1,559,669

H. M. BROWN LIGHTING FIXTURE HOLDER Filed Sept. 26, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Np'v. 3,1925. 1,559,669 H. M. BROWN LIGHTING FIXTURE HOLDER Filed sept. 2e.A 1924 3 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 3,1925,

H. M. BROWN l LIGHTING FIXTURE HOLDER Filed Sept. 26. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W ff lll

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD M. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OSCAR E. FUCHS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTING-FIXTURE HOLDER.

Application filed-September 26, 1924. Serial No. 74),002.

To all lwhom t may con-cern Be it known that I, HAROLD M. BROWN, a citizen or the United States, and a resident ot' the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Lighting- Fixture Holders, oi which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to lighting-fixture holders, and has for its main object the provision of a new and useful construction ot this character which will be highly eiiicientv in use.

One of the principal objects 0f my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, so designed and constructed that chandeliers and lighting units may be elevated to and lowered from their overhead lighting positions and so designed and constructed that such chandeliers and lighting units may be locked with a fixed support on being elevated to their lighting positions and may also be unlocked therefrom preparatory to being lowered from their lighting positions, it being a further object ot' the invention to accomplish thesevarious operations from the floor of the room or place furnished with the chandeliers and lighting units.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of this character for use in auditoriums, theatres, churches, assembly halls, and in other editices and places furnished with massive lighting units or structures which are supported at high elevations where they are inaccessible or practically inaccessible :tor cleaning and repairs, and where in the interest of safety it is essential, nevertheless, that such lighting units and structures be securely supported on strong permanent bodies other than the cables,- or means otherwise employed as equipment by means of which to edect the elevating and lowering operations.

Other objects will appear, hereinafter.

rIhe invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter de'- scribed and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. l is an elevational view of my improved construction;

Fig. 2 is a. cross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the lugpaths and lug-seats provided on the tubular body; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

In auditoriums, theatres, churches and other ediiices and places where large spaces are required to be illuminated and where the lighting Fixtures and structures are required to be placed at a high elevation, much ditliculty is experienced in providing an equipment by means of which the lighting units or structures may be lowered to the floor for cleaning and repairs and at the same time providing an equipment whereby such lighting units or structures will be securely maintained at all times in their lighting positions. It is a common practice to elevate and lower the lighting units and structures by means of cables or similar equipment and also to employ the cables or similar equipment as the means or as a link in the chain of means supporting the lighting units or structures in their over-head positions. Owing to the danger of supporting such units or structures by means other than rigid and permanent supports, the authorities in some places now require all massive lighting iixtures, units and structures to be 'supported upon staunch, strong and permanent supports. The aim of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a permanent over-head holder and to provide in i supporting body 7, made in the form of a tube, the same having a. central longitudinal bore 8. At its upper end this tubular body is made with a projecting annular flange 9 by means of which it may be se- Cal cured through bolts l or otherwise to a fixed structural element 11 which may consist of a beam or other over-head structural feature of the building. Spaed from the Vannular flange 9, the tubular body is also provided with an annular shoulder 12 4adja-y cent to which is an outwardly and upwardly inclined region 13. The tubular body has also formed on its periphery sp-acedapart lug-paths which are referred to generally by the numerals 14 and each `of whi'ch `:consist of an entrance path 15, an ascending path 16 a portion of which is inclined at an angle, a descending path 17 a portion of which is inclined at an angle and terminates a lug-seat 18 adjacent an end hook`19. In the present embodiment there are three vof Vthese lugpaths,and it will be noted'from lan inspection ot' Fig. that each of 'these paths surrounds an integral cam 2O which is located immediately above the lug-seat 18 and has an upwardly inclined surface .20" thereabove. Y

21 denotes a vbase member, here shown to be of circular 'formj This base member is employed for the purpose of supporting :the lighting fixture or unit; and in the construction illustrated there lis 'centrally secured thereto av depending hub member A22 into which is threaded .the stem or shanlr23 ofthe lighting xture or unit to be supported. This base member Yis centrally threaded upon a tubular stud member '24 which is lformed at a ,point above the base member with an annular flange 25 and lalso above said 'flange with a longitudinal slot 26, the upper extremity fof this lug member being inclined at 27 upwardlyfrom the posi-tion of said slot 26. 28 is a key which is securedgby bolts 29 on the interior wall of the tubular member for the purpose of-engaging the lug member in 4the slot, whereby, when the lug Amember is entered in the tubular bod-y, to prevent it from turning. The lower end of the -key 28 is formed with a V-,shapedpoint -30 (Figj'), designed to serve -as 'a .'gufide or pilot to engage on the inclined surface 27 of the lug :member and to lead into the slot 26 thereof, when said lug member is entered in said tubular body.

Thel llug member *is supported upon a sleeve 31 which 'is formed lat its lower `end with an linwardly projecting annularfflange 32 designed, to cooperate vwith the flange 25 of said lug v,member and having anti-fric tional mounting upon the base member 21 by means of the antij-frictional members `33.

Near its upper end :th-is sleeve member is formed with integral inwardly projecting lugs 34 of oval shaped crosssection l(Fig. 5) designed to cooperate with thelug-paths 14 'and'to be seated-in the `lug-seats A18 over vthe endliooks 19. 1The upperjextremirty of the sleeve member yis inwardly bevelled at V35 in order to cooperate with the V-shapedbev- A118 provided therefor. member is to be demounted, it is raised or elled portions 36 formed on the lower end of the tubular body. By forming these parts in this manner, the lugs 3l are guided into their paths and the sleeve is guided upon v'the tubular 'bodywh-en the sleeve is applied thereto. 1n practice, when the sleeve ris applied to the tubular body, the lugs 34 enter the llug-paths through the neck 15 proceed upwardly throuo'h the ascending paths 16 thence downwardly paths 17 and thence are seated in the seats Then the sleeve elevated and the lugs l34 engage with the in- -clined surface A20 of the cams 20 are dii" v-rected outwardly into the paths 16, whence they may be drawn downwardly and readily removed from the neck opening 15. ln this connection., herein it will be readily understood lthat in applying the sleeve to the tu- --bular body the .lugs 34 in following the lugpaths will readily turn or give rotative movement to the sleeve upon the base member in accordance with the engagement of the lugs 3e with the deflections of the walls of the lug-paths. By this arrangement, therefore, the stud member which supports the base .member and which is supported by vthe sleeve member is Vheld against turning bythe 'key 28 upon entrance into the tubular body lwhile the sleeve member is mounted for free turning movement in response to the engagement of its lugs with the walls of the Alug-paths.

v 'Depending from `the annular flange 9 of the tubular body is a cylindrical casing 37 which has its lower end portion Aprovided with-slitsas'BS to produce spring fingers 39 made with inward deformations 110. Depending from the annular shoulder 12 of the 'tubular bodyis 'a concentric cylindrical casing 4.1.. VVBetween the casi-ugs 37 and e1 is lsupported aninsulating 4ring l2 which consists preferably of balrelrite. lThreaded in spaced apart vertical positions through this 'ring are receiving terminal contacts 43 on which are engaged by the pairs of securing nuts as the extremities of the electrical conducting wires l5 which are led through the .chamber 46, formed Vbetween the rcasings 37 and 41, and vthence through the flexible conduits t7 and 48 (Fig. 1) to effect connection with anelectrical circuit in a manner that willbe readily understood.

49 represents spiral telescopic springs which are mounted in seats 50 provided in the base member 21 in spaced apart circular relation, the said lsprings atv the :top ends 4thereof being engaged with an annular ring of U-s'haped form in cross section and within which atthe Vtop VAthereof is mounted an insulating ring "52 consisting preferably of balrehte. Passing through the base member v21, in which they have'free sliding movement, and also through the 'telescopic springs through the descending 49 and extending into the U-shaped member 51 to the insulating ring 52 therein with whichthey have threaded engagement, are headed pins 53, designed in view of the mounting herein to support in a yielding manner the insulating ring 52 against the upper insulating ring 42. Said insulating ring 52 is provided with male contact terminals 54 which are designed to enter the receiving contact terminals 43 in order to connect the lighting elements of the unitsupported by the stem 23 in circuit with an outside source of electrical supply. For this purpose the male contact terminals 54 have secured thereto by means of the securing nuts 55 the extremities of the wire conductors 56 which are led through a flexible conduit 57, supported on the U-shaped link 51 and guided in an opening 58 in the base plate, the said` wires 56 thence being led to their respective lighting elements.

According to an important feature of my invention the telescopic spring construction normally urges the ring 52 into such position as to maintain the cooperating terminal contacts in proper engagement, and said springs also by exerting a spreading tendency between the ring 52 and the base' member 21 serve to elfect a tension that draws the sleeve member into that position whereat the lugs 34 are maintained over the end hooks 19 against any danger of being accidentally disconnected therewith. Additionally, it will be noted that the spring construction is adapted to yield in order to permit the lug members to be advanced to the high points of the lug-paths on the application on the sleeve upon the tubular member, and further that the spring construction also readily yields to allow the disengagement of the lugs with the end hooks when the sleeve member is to be dismounted.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and 6, a cable 59 is trained over a pulley GO upon the beam 11 and thence is passed through the tubular body and also the stud member, within the lower portion of which the cable is firmly gripped by a two-part gripping device 61 whose upper end is tapered at 62 for engagement in a seat 63 and on whose lower end is threadably secured an adjusting nut 64. From the pulley 60, this cablev may be led along the ceiling (not shown) of the room in any suitable manner and thence along the side walls to the floor of the room, the same being thus led in any secret or concealed course and being trained over suitable pulleys. When, in practice, it is desired to lower the lighting unit or structure supported by the base member 21, the cable is drawn in a ldirection to lift the sleeve member, which is caused to rotate by the lugs 34 engaging the cams 2O so as' to bringthe lugs into the lug-paths leading to the lug openings 15. Thereupon the cable is payed out permitting the sleeve member and subjoined superstructure to be lowered to the floor. The structure is elevated again by drawing upon the cable in an obvious manner until the inclined eX- tremity 2T enters the tubular member and the lugs enter the lug-paths being directed thereto by the V-shaped portions 36 as herein before described. The stud meniber held by the key 28 against turning serves as a guide to aline the male terminal contacts with the receiving terminal contacts for their proper engagement on the further raising of the sleeve member to bring the lugs thereof to the high points of the lug-paths. Thereupon the cable is payed out permitting the structure to be lowered until the lugs enter the lug-seats.

lhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spiritof the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting body having a retaining seat, a stud member having means affording a guide in said supporting body, a base member fixed to the stud member, and a sleeve rotatably secured to the stud member and having means to rest in said seat. v

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting body having a retaining seat,'a stud member having means affording a guide in said supporting body, a base member fixed to the stud member, a sleeve rotatively secured to the stud member and having means adapted to rest in said seat, and antifriction devices between said sleeve and sai-d base member.

3. In a. device of the character described, the combination with a supporting body having a retaining seat, a rotatable sleeve having means adapted to rest in said seat, a stud member extending into the sleeve and having means affording a guide in the supporting body, means whereby to support the stud member on the rotatable sleeve, a base member secured to the stud member, and cooperative terminal contacts carried by said supporting body and said base member, respectively.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a tubular supporting body having a retaining seat, a rotatable sleeve having means1 adapted to rest in said iso lio

'Y seat,` Yafstud `member extending into and connection `with the stud member.

5. In a `deviceof the character described, the Vcombination withV a supporting body having a retaining seat, a rotatable sleeve having means 'adapted to rest in said seat, a stud vmember extending into the sleeve and having means affording a guide in the supporting body, cooperating flange parts for supportiiigthe stud member on said rotatable sleeve, a base member secured to said stud member, and means for elevating and lowering said stud member.

6. In a devi-ce of the character described. Athe combination With a tubular supporting body, a stud member adapted to slide in the supporting body, there being a groove in the side of the stud member, a key Within the supporting body adapted to cooperate with said groove, an inclined guiding end across thestud member to direct said key into said groove, and means for raising and lowering the Astud member.

7, In adevice of the character described, the combination with a tubular supporting body having a retaining seat, a rotatable sleeve having means adapted to rest in said seat, a` stud member extending into and iianged to rest upon the sleeve and adapted to slide in the supporting body, there being agroove in the side of the stud member, a key on the -supporting body adapted to cooperate with said groove, an inclined guiding end on' the stud member to p direct said key into said groove., a base member onfvvhich the sleeve is rotatable secured to the stud member, and means for raising and lowering the stud member.

Y 8. In a Vdevice of the character described,

the combination with a tubular supporting body having exterior lug paths and retaining seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and rest in said seats, means consisting of cam faces provided on the supporting body to direct said lugs into said paths on the application or" the sleeve, a .stud member extending into and flanged to rest on the sleeve and having means aflording a guide in the supporting body, a base secured to the stud member,

andV means ior raising and lowering said stud member. y

9. Iii a device ot the character described, the combination with a tubular supporting body having` exterior lug pathsv and retaining seats, a. sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said pathsl and rest in said seats, means comprising cam faces on the supporting body to dire-ct said lugs into said paths onk the application of the sleeve, a tubular .base member, respectively.

studmember extending into the sleeve and adapted 'to' slide in the supporting lbody -fand having.` a groove,-a key in the supportingbody, means 'for directing the key into said groove on the application of the stud vmember, cooperating ianges for supporting thestud member-on the sleeve, a base member iixed to the stud member, anda cable leading through thesupporting body and stud member vfor raising and lowering the stud member.

10. In a'device of the character described, the combination with a` tubular body having retaining means, a. stndmember entering the tubular body, a key in the tubular body engaging Vthe stud member, a base member supported on the stud member, a sleeve receiving and adapted to uph'old'the stud member, said sleeve having anti-frictional engagement with the .basefmember and having demountable connection with said body retaining.means,` andsets of cooperative terminal contacts yieldable with respect to each other supported on said tnbular body and on Dsaid base member, respectively.

ll. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination With atubnlar body having retaining means,v a base member, a sleeve having ant-ifrictional-mounting on the base member demountably connected i with z said tubular body retaining means, and an element on which the base member is supported, and having support in said sleeve and keyed' Within the tubular body.

l2. In a device of the character described, the combination with :a tubular body having retaining means, a base member, a sleeve having anti-rictional mountingon the base member demountably connected With said tubular body retaining means, an element on which the base member is supported, having support in said sleeve and keyed Within the tubular body, and sets of cooperative terminal contacts yieldable with respect to each other on said tubular body and said lf3. In a. device of the character described, the combination with a tubular body having exterior retaining means, ot a tubular stud member and a base member supported thereon, said stud member being keyed Within the tubular body, a cable passing through the tubular body and stv-ud member for elevating and lowering the stud member, a rotat-able sleeve holding the stud member and detachably engaged With the tubular body retaining means, f and cooperative sets of terminal contacts carried by said tubular body and said base member, respectively, the members of o-ne of said sets being yieldably mounted iv'ith respect to the members Lof Ithe other set. v

14. In a device of the character described, the combination With'a tubular body having llO retaining means, a base member, a sleeve having anti-frietional mounting on said base member and having demountable connection with said tubular body retaining means, means on which the base member is supported, having support in said sleeve and keyed within the tubular body, a cable passing through the tubular body and attached to the supporting means for said base member, and cooperative sets of terminal contacts carried by said tubular body 'and said basemember, respectively, the members of one of said sets being yieldably mounted with respect to the members of the other set.

15. A device of the character described including a supporting body having lng seats and cam parts, there being lug paths surrounding said cam parts and leading to said seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and to rest in said seats, a base member and means for holding said base for relative movement to and supporting it from said sleeve.

16. A device of the character described including a supporting body having lug seats and cam parts, there being lug paths surrounding said cam parts and leading to said seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and to rest in said seats and flanged, and means for supporting a lighting unit extending into said sleeve and embracing said sleeve flange.

17. A device of the character described including a supporting body having lng seats and cam parts, there being lug paths surrounding said cam parts and leading to said seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and to rest in said seats, a stud member fitting into said sleeve and flanged, a base member carried by the stud and a flange on the sleeve fitting between the base member` and said stud flange.

18. A device of the character described including a tubular body having means for attachment to a support and having lug-paths and lug-seats, asleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and to rest in said seats, a base member on which said sleeve has anti-frictional mounting, and means comprising a stud member carried in the tubular body and supporting the base meniber from said sleeve.

19. A device of the character described including a tubular body having means for attachment to a support and having lug-paths and lug-seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to pass through said paths and to rest in said seats and flanged, a base member, a stud member carried in the tubular body supporting the base member and having a ilanged portion cooperative with the sleeve flange whereby to be supported by said sleeve, antifrictional means between said sleeve flange and the base member, and means elevating and lowering said stud member.

20. A device of the character described including a tubular body having means Jfor attachment to a support and having lug-paths and lug-seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to pass through said paths and to rest in said seats, a base member on which said sleeve has anti-frictional mounting, means comprising a stud member keyed in the tubular body andv supporting the base member from said sleeve, and a cable passing through the tubular body and attached to the stud member for elevating and lowering the same.

21. A device of the character described including a tubular body having means for attachment to a support and having lug-paths and lug-seats, a sleeve having lugs adapted to traverse said paths and to rest in said seats, a base member on which said sleeve has antifrictional mounting, means comprising a stud member keyed in the tubular body and supporting the base member from said sleeve, a cable passing through the tubular body and attached to the stud member for elevating and lowering the same, and cooperative sets of terminal contacts carried by said tubular body and said base member, respectively the members of one of said sets being yieldably mounted with respect to the members of the other set.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' HAROLD M. BROWN. 

